Forward running intermittently swinging toy figure



Jan; 21,v 1958 f R, Rl-:lsER 2,820,323

FORWARD RUNNING INTERMITTENTLY swINGI'NG 'roy FIGURE Filed sept.' 9, 1955 In vc raf-0r` Rua/alf REIS ER United States Patent O FORWARD RUNNING INTERMITTENTLY SWINGING TOY FIGURE Rudolf Reiser, Nurnberg, Germany Application September 9, 1955, Serial No. 533,435

2 Claims. (Cl. 46-104) It is known in connection with toy vehicles to produce, not only a forward and reverse movement by means of a spring driving mechanism, but also at the same time rotary movements, for example with a rotary disk mounted on a shaft extending through the toy ligure.

Compared with these known models, the invention consists in that a driving mechanism with a rotary disk is so arranged in the interior of a toy figure or vehicle, for example the representation of a cat, that it intermittently swings out laterally, under the action of an eccentric, cam or the like fixed on the winding axle and striking intermittently against an abutment, bar or the like fitted in the interior of the hollow body of the ligure. This intermittent lateral swinging of the driving mechanism with its rotary disk, imparts to the whole toy after a predetermined period of turning a rocking lateral movement followed by a forward running movement. These latter movements are produced by the rotary disk in that, as the driving mechanism swings, only the disks edges are in contact with the supporting surface.

The toy according to the invention is simple, cheap to manufacture and produces unexpected effects.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the body of the ligure partly in section, and

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 1.

A known spring driving mechanism b with a winding axle h is oscillatably fitted in the body a of the figure. For this purpose two brackets d or the like are fitted on one side in the interior of the body of the toy figure at a distance apart whereas two corresponding brackets c project from the driving mechanism towards the side of the body which carries the brackets d. Through these brackets c and d an axle f is threaded so that the driving mechanism can swing about said axle f. The driving mechanism includes a rotary disk g normally horizontally resting on the supporting surface and fitted with a rubber ring m of known type which serves to improve adhesion of the rotary disk. A rotary movement is imparted to the disk g by means of the driving mechanism b, so that the toy ligure in its normal position carries out a turning movement. An eccentric or cam i or the like is fixed on the winding axle h of the driving mechanism and, in rotating, intermittently strikes against an abutment k or the like provided in the interior of the body of the ligure, with the result that the driving mechanism together with the rotary disk will swing laterally and the disk will contact the surface on which the toy ligure rests only with its edge portion, whereby the body of the toy figure will have a rocking lateral movement imparted thereto as well as a subsequent forward running movement.

When the camming action takes place the driving mechanism and the rotary disk will move more and more into an inclined position and it is apparent that the body of the ligure will be somewhat lifted at the start or beginning of said swinging movement, then laterally displaced through a short distance, and linally lowered so that when the forward running movement takes place it contacts the supporting surface with its four legs as well as with the edge of the rotary disk.

During this swinging movement of the driving mechanism, the rotary disk no longer rests horizontally on the supporting surface but assumes an inclined position relatively thereto. When the cam z' has run olf the abutment k a spring l, attached to the driving mechanism and to the body of the ligure, pulls the driving mechanism b and the rotary disk g back into their normal position. When the disk g is in its normal or vertical position the toy ligure will rotate about the disk. Owing to the fact that the toy carries out, in addition to the forward running movement also rotary movements, a toy with very varied effects is produced.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it `is believed that the construction will at once be apparent, and while there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a toy ligure of the type described, a spring driving mechanism provided with a winding axle and a normally vertically disposed and surface-contacting rotary disk for imparting rotation to the toy figure, bracket and axle means oscillatably suspending said spring driving mechanism and rotary disk on an inside wall of the body of the toy figure, and a cam on the winding axle of the driving mechanism which is adapted to intermittently contact an abutment provided on an inside wall of the body of the toy figure so that the driving mechanism together with the rotary disk will swing laterally and the disk will contact the surface on which the toy ligure rests only with its edge portion, whereby the body of the toy ligure will have a rocking lateral movement imparted thereto as well as a subsequent forward running movement.

2. A toy ligure as set forth in claim 1, wherein a tension spring is fixed to the driving mechanism and to the body of the toy ligure, said spring acting to pull the rotary disk and the body of the toy ligure back into their normal upright position when the cam runs olf the abutment.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,660,252 Buttigieg Feb. 21, 1928 2,001,625 Muller May 14, 1935 2,189,759 Lohr et al Feb. 13, 1940 2,504,652 Cohn Apr. 18, 1950 

